Большие надежды. Уровень 2 / Great Expectations

”

As she was still looking at the reflection of herself, I thought she was still talking to herself.

“Call Estella,” she repeated. “You can do that. Call Estella. At the door.”

I called Estella. Soon her light came along the dark passage like a star. Miss Havisham beckoned her to come close, and took up a jewel from the table.

“Your own, one day, my dear, and you will use it well. Let me see you play cards with this boy.”

“With this boy? Why, he is a common laboring boy[20 - a common laboring boy – самый обыкновенный деревенский мальчишка]!”

Miss Havisham answered,

“Well? You can break his heart.

“What do you play, boy?” asked Estella, with the greatest disdain.

“Nothing but beggar my neighbor[21 - Nothing but beggar my neighbor. – Ни во что другое, как кроме в «дурачка».], miss.”

“Beggar him[22 - Beggar him. – Оставь его в дураках.],” said Miss Havisham to Estella.

So we sat down to cards. The lady was corpse-like, as we played.

“What coarse hands he has, this boy!” said Estella with disdain. “And what thick boots!”

Her contempt for me was very strong. She won the game, and I dealt. I misdealt, and she called me a stupid, clumsy laboring-boy.

“You say nothing of her,” remarked Miss Havisham to me. “She says many hard things of you, but you say nothing of her. What do you think of her?”

“I don’t like to say,” I stammered.

“Tell me in my ear,” said Miss Havisham.

“I think she is very proud,” I replied, in a whisper.

“Anything else?”

“I think she is very pretty.”

“Anything else?”

“I think she is very insulting.”

“Anything else?”

“I want to go home.”

“And never see her again, though she is so pretty?”

“I am not sure. But I want to go home now.”

“You will go soon,” said Miss Havisham, aloud. “Play.”

I played the game to an end with Estella, and she beggared me.

“When shall I have you here again?” said Miss Havisham. “Let me think. Come again after six days. You hear?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Estella, take him down. Let him have something to eat. Go, Pip.”

I followed the candle down. Estella opened the side entrance.

“Wait here, you boy,” said Estella.

She disappeared and closed the door.